Pretoria – The Blue Bulls won the Currie Cup at Loftus when they beat the Free State Cheetahs 36-24 in a lively and high-scoring final in which they controlled matters from the outset and were never behind.

The win for Blue Bulls coach Frans Ludeke, replaced as Lions coach three years ago after a string of disappointing results, was special and gives him the double after winning the Currie Cup and the Super 14 in a single year – and the franchise Bulls and the Blue Bulls of the union made this a day to remember in Pretoria.

Habana Slamma

The Blue Bulls were simply better than the visitors from the first minutes when they took a 7-0 lead to the end, with a few lapses in concentration letting in a game and at times competitive Free State Cheetahs side for three tries which kept them in the hunt.

The Blue Bulls held the Free State in the scrums and didn’t allow them the advantage in this facet and did more than their share at the breakdowns where the Bulls’ teamwork nullified the work of Heinrich Brussow on the ground.

They also had the better of the lineouts and, all in all, showed their experience with a more professional performance.

Man of the match Fourie du Preez had a major hand in all three tries and must now be arguably the best scrumhalf in South Africa’s history.

It was only three minutes before Du Preez put a corner kick to the right into the hands of right wing Francois Hougaard after it looked like a warranted penalty try following the ruck after Derick Kuun was tackled by Lionel Mapoe on the line.

The Blue Bulls seemed on a cruise to the biggest Currie Cup final score yet when they were ahead 24-0 after 25 minutes with three tries on the board.

But the Cheetahs, renowned for their fightback in the second half this season, came back with two excellent tries to creep to 24-14 after 35 minutes – and the game was on. A drop goal by Morne Steyn on the stroke of half-time saw the Blue Bulls go into the tunnel 27-14 ahead.

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[source : sport24.co.za]